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Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Spotify's admission just before Christmas that some of the data it uses to assign royalties is a bit broken could end up being costly. Former Camper Van Beethoven and perpetual thorn in Spotify's side David Lowery has just filed a class action lawsuit against the company, claiming copyright theft:

“Spotify has — and continues to — unlawfully reproduce and/or distribute copyrighted musical compositions … to more than 75 million users via its interactive commercial music streaming service,” the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in the Central District of California, read. ” … Indeed, Spotify has publicly admitted its failures to obtain licenses for the musical works it distributes or reproduces or to pay royalties to copyright owners for its use of their Works.”

The initial suggestion is USD150million in damages, but the lawsuit suggests the final figure might be "incalculable".